Call for nominations: Free Media Awards 2026
In collaboration with the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS of Hamburg, the Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated the Free Media Awards – Supporting Independent Journalism in Eastern Europe – annually since 2004 to Eastern European journalists and media that defy every obstacle to tirelessly ensure independent press coverage. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the subsequent wave of disinformation clearly demonstrates the need for independent reporting in the region. Journalist, editorial teams and media companies in and from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary who make a contribution to press freedom through their investigative, independent reporting can be nominated for the Free Media Awards.
The Fritt Ord Foundation and the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS hereby invite nominations of independent journalists, Internet media and newspapers for the 2026 Free Media Awards.
Nominations will be accepted until Wednesday 22 April 2026 and should include an explanation of why the journalist or media outlet is considered to be a good candidate for the Free Media Awards. Please note that nominations should include references to the quality of their work. The nomination statements should be 1 to 2 pages long, and include a short biography and links to articles, where relevant. To qualify for nomination, journalists and media outlets must have demonstrated a commitment to democracy and freedom of expression.
Please send nominations by e-mail to freemediaawards@frittord.no
If you prefer to send the nomination by Signal, please send an e-mail to freemediaawards@frittord.no for further instructions.
Do not hesitate to contact Fritt Ord if you have any questions about the nomination process.
The Fritt Ord Foundation and the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS will be awarding 5 press prizes in 2026.
The 2025 Free Media Awards were bestowed to the media platform Gwara Media from Ukraine, journalist and media founder Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, the investigative online-media outlet Direkt36 from Hungary, photographer and photojournalist Alexandra Astakhova from Russia, the media channel Belarusian Investigative Center from Belarus, and
journalist Nargiz Absalamova from Azerbaijan.
The prize laureates are chosen on the basis of nominations, which are then reviewed by an independent jury.
Read more about the awards, the nomination process and the former recipients here: Free Media Awards – Fritt Ord
